Ling Qi looked down at the table, staring at her faint reflection in the polished surface. She recalled the caverns, and the shishigui. She remembered the legion born on silent wings and their mutilated upper realms.
"I'd rather avoid the caves if it's all the same to you, Lady Renxiang," Ling Qi said.
"Not your most well thought out reasoning," Cai Renxiang replied. "Although I can empathize with the reasoning."
Ah, that was right, Cai Renxiang had been… incapacitated, in the initial assault by the activation of Liming.
"I think from the perspective of earning Sect Rank an attack is also better. It is more visible and a more obvious victory," Ling Qi said after a moment, looking up.
The corner of Cai Renxiang's lips quirked up. "Better, but not yet fit for public."
Ling Qi huffed. "Fine, between the two of us, it is highly unlikely for any barbarians in our assigned zone to escape. We will be more of an asset in such an operation."
Cai Renxiang looked back at her impassively, and then gave a small nod. "Very good."
Ling Qi hummed. "Can I ask what your opinion on the matter is?"
"In truth, I am ambivalent," Cai Renxiang said after a moment. "I believe our talents to be useful in both situations. However, I lean toward your reasoning. I find the under earth unpleasant."
"How irresponsible of you, to base your choices on such a thing," Ling Qi said dryly.
Cai Renxiang ignored her, turning back to the tea. "Cloud Grotto Ginseng requires the use of the type three wind natured strainer to achieve the optimum flavour. To strain the brew properly, you must…"
Ling Qi let out a huff as the heiress went on, settling in to listen. She could worry about the mission later. After all, it wasn't like the objective was anything crazy this time.
***
"What a pleasant surprise, junior sister!" Liao Zhu said brightly, speaking over the high wind.
"Well at least you'll have something nice to look at," Sixiang chuckled in her head.
Ling Qi silently hushed the muse and offered a bow. "Senior Brother Liao," she greeted, glancing to his side where another young man stood. "Senior Brother Ruan?"
Ruan Shen gave her a wan smile. "Indeed, it seems we will be working together, junior sister."
In her head, Hanyi let out a wholly inappropriate giggle. Zhengui just seemed confused.
They were standing within the Sect's forward encampment. Temporary wooden walls rose around pavilions and tents, and first and second realm soldiers scurried back and forth through the pouring rain taking care of a multitude of tasks.
For the three of them rain poured around them. It was a simple enough thing for Ling Qi to manipulate the air around her to deflect it. "Do the two of you know each other?" She asked curiously.
"This senior brother may have once tutored a young fellow going through his brooding phase," Liao Zhu said, eyes crinkled in amusement.
"Is it really necessary to speak of such things?" Ruan Shen sighed, making a pained face. "How have you been, junior sister? I must express my regret that we were not able to have our meeting this last month."
"I am doing well, my wounds are healed," Ling Qi said politely. "How is senior sister Bian?"
"She is recovering well from her exhaustion," Ruan Shen said, scrubbing a hand through his hair.
"You would know, having spent the better part of a week camped at the Medicine hall," Liao Zhu said lightly. "So dedicated."
Ling Qi smiled. "I am sure that Senior Sister appreciated it."
Hanyi grumbled in her head. Ling Qi ignored her.
"Why do I feel like a rabbit caught between two snakes?" Ruan Shen grumbled good naturedly. "In any case Bian Ya, would like to join our discussions. If you have the time this month, Junior Sister, the invitation stands."
Ling Qi considered her tentative project with Zhengui, and Ruan Shen's musical preferences. "I would be happy too, if you would still have me, Senior Brother."
"Alas, to be left alone. Such is the fate of the idealist," Liao Zhu lamented. "Left out in the cold due to my path of justice!."
"It's more that you have a tin ear and cannot tell an erhu from a guqin," Ruan Shen said dryly.
"Cruel, junior brother, to mock my disability so," Liao Zhu said, laying a hand over his chest. "Sweet junior sister Ling, will you stand for this?"
"Senior Brother Liao should perhaps tone it down just a little," Ling Qi said flatly
He staggered as if struck. Ling Qi couldn't help herself, she chuckled. Some of the tension in her shoulders eased away.
Ling Qi looked back over her shoulder as she felt the air shift, light falling on her back. She turned and bowed. "Lady Cai, you have completed our arrangements?"
"I have," Cai Renxiang said evenly. "We are recorded among the volunteer officers."
Ruan Shen and Laio Zhu both bowed low. "Lady Cai."
Cai Renxiang glanced at them both. "Raise your heads. Liao Zhu, has your father been well?"
Liao Zhu straightened up, his customary good humor twinkling in his eyes. "Father is most honored by his position. But age leeches at his bones he hopes that my eldest sister might be ready to take up the family's mantle soon."
"Physician Liao is truly skilled, but if it is Liao Jiu, then I believe his shoes will be well filled indeed," Cai Renxiang replied diplomatically. Her eyes flicked over to Ruan Shen. "Sir Ruan, it is unlike you to join such operations."
"Ha well, Sister Bian made it clear that I should make myself useful," he chuckled. "It will be an honor to serve with you, Lady Cai."
"It will please me to attain victory at your sides," the heiress replied. "May I ask what matters were being discussed in my absence?"
"Only small personal matters my lady," Ling Qi said. "Ruan Shen and I sometimes discuss musical matters with a few other disciples."
"Is that so?" Cai Renxiang said.
"Junior Sister Ling can be quite insightful in her way," Ruan Shen said lightly.
Cai Renxiang gave Ling Qi a look out of the corner of her eye. "Hm, quite. In any case, I believe we should be taking our places for the orientation meeting."
"Ah, is it truly so late already?" Laio Zhu said, peering up at the iron gray sky. "It is so difficult to tell when the barbarians are about."
Ling Qi glanced up, considering the storm. The roiling clouds stretched to the horizon in every direction, except for the south, where they curved unnaturally around the mountains of the Sect, curbed by its wards.
...They certainly weren't interrupting something small it seemed.
***
The pavilion where the meeting was to take face was filled with Third realms. There were around two score Inner Sect disciples here. Most, Ling Qi judged, were from the lower ranks, with cultivation in the first or second stage of the Green realm and Bronze physique. Ling Qi nodded politely to a few, who she recognized from Wang Chao's training camp, but remained at Cai Renxiang's side as they filed in.
Leaving aside herself and her liege, there were only three other disciples above at or above the Foundation stage, in addition to Liao Zhu and Ruan Shen.
At the center of the tent stood three people. One was a familiar face. Guan Zhi stood at attention to the left side of the tent, only briefly glancing Ling Qi's way as she entered. The only change in the girl was a hair thin scar that traveled from the corner of her right eye up beneath her hair. A relic of whatever encounter she had deep in the Dream before finding them.
Across from her stood a young man with brilliant green eyes. He was a handsome sort, putting her in the mind of Han Jian. He had dusky skin and wavy brown hair, that framed aristocratic features. He wore pale green and brown clothing, with light armor on his arms, chest and lower legs.
The third was surprisingly, the short, portly Elder who had overseen her duel with Liang He months ago. The soft featured man wore robes of pale yellow, matching the golden sheen of his skin. His expression was that of drowsy contentment, though Ling Qi knew better than to think an Elder was inattentive.
It was the young man who spoke as the last of the Inner disciples filed in. He clapped his hands once, silencing the stray murmurs. "Welcome, my Junior siblings. For those that are unaware, I am Core Disciple Diao Gen, at my side is Core Disciple Guan Zhi, and with us today is Honorable Elder Bei Yongrui."
The Elder gave them all a paternal smile, his hands resting on the swell of his belly.
Daio Gen continued, managing in that way good speakers had to seem like he was looking at everyone at once. "I would firstly thank all who volunteered for this duty today. Your contributions to the Sect will not be forgotten. The matter today is one which the Sect leadership has debated," he said gravely. "For there is every possibility that it is intended as a trap."
There was only a little noise. Ling Qi shared a look with Cai Renxiang. They had in the intervening days, spoken further on the matter and the possibility had come up.
"Divination within the Sect remains troubled and inconclusive," Diao Gen said, shaking his head sorrowfully. "However such sources as we have indicate both the potential for great fortune as well as great danger, and so it was decided that we must strike. However we are not foolish, Elder Yongrui will ensure that we are not overwhelmed by a potential high cultivation foe and if need be, call upon reinforcements. If the barbarians intend to trap us, then they will find themselves trapped in turn."
Ling Qi glanced at the smiling Elder, Sixth realm, as potent as anything that the barbarians could muster… yet Elder Zhou's fate worried at her mind.
"The target is thus," Diao Gen continued gesturing at the empty stone between the expeditions three leaders. The flat ground rippled like water, and shapes arose, mountain peaks, valleys and hills, rendered in miniature. The detail of the 'sculpture' was exquisite, tiny trees and plants rendered in darker stone and rivers glittering in crystal. Diao Gen's extended hand pointed to a peak in the center as it finished. It was shorter than the others, as if someone had come along and scooped the top half of the peak away, leaving a cavernous pit. "Earthwound Peak is believed to be a dormant volcano, although it has never erupted in the history of the Empire."
"The obvious implication is incorrect however," Guan Zhi said crisply. "To awaken the mountain would be beyond the abilities of any Cloud tribesman yet recorded. There is some possibility of cooperation with their allies, but we do not believe that to be the purpose of the meeting taking place."
"Regardless, we may investigate after we have broken them, yes?" Diao Gen said lightly. It earned him a smattering of polite laughter. "For our purposes, the assault will be split into two groups. One will strike directly against the foe, and the other will encircle the southern end of the battlespace, to catch those who flee. I will lead the perimeter group, and Sect Sister Guan will lead the assault. And, should they flee east, west or north…"
"They will find my brothers and sisters waiting," Elder Yongrui said cheerfully.
"Indeed," Diao Gen said. "Now, who wishes to join which group?"
Ling Qi shared a look with Cai Renxiang.
[] Join the group assaulting the caldera
[] Join the southern perimeter group
